SSOE Named a Best AEC Firm to Work For

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TOLEDO, Ohio – June 25 2007 – In recognition of tremendous growth, high employee retention and satisfaction levels, and escalating recruitment of new talent, SSOE has been named one of the nine “Best AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) Firms to Work For” by Building Design & Construction Magazine.

“This honor reflects our dedication to providing the best possible workplace for our employees, who have been the engine driving SSOE’s tremendous growth and success over the past few years,” said Tony Damon, CEO of SSOE. “We strive to give our employees balance and opportunity to advance their careers – our national and international reach is expanding rapidly and that alone provides an extraordinary amount of opportunity for eager, skilled professionals. As SSOE continues to flourish we are heavily investing in recruiting new talent to grow our expertise and deliver fresh, innovative thinking to our clients.”

Since 2004, SSOE has grown significantly, including expanding its staff by 50 percent. The firm has also added eight new offices in the last 3 years in new geographic markets and its revenue growth has topped 15 percent each of those years, including a 30 percent increase in 2006.

SSOE’s employee retention is another reason behind the Building Design & Construction Magazine honor. In 2006, the company retained 94 percent of its 750 employees – 17 percent higher than the overall U.S. average. Benefits enjoyed by SSOE employees include: flex-time options, a flex-benefits system allowing employees to buy and sell up to 40 hours of vacation time as well as apply unneeded coverage credits in one area to alternative coverage options, training spending that averages 15 percent higher than the industry average per staff member, 75 percent tuition reimbursement, and a 401(k) plan that matches 50 percent of employee contributions up to six percent.

SSOE is active in recruiting new professionals to accommodate this growth, hiring an average of 100 new employees each year, with a goal of hiring 200 additional architects and engineers by the end of 2007. In order to accommodate this growth in a tight architecture and engineering labor market, SSOE was also recognized for it’s commitment to providing flexible working options such as part-time status and telecommuting to working parents who want to spend more time at home, retirees seeking to stay active in the professional environment, and employees whose spouses have relocated.

SSOE recently opened a new office in the Raleigh-Durham area and has expanded its Southwest U.S. hub in Phoenix and its three offices in Michigan. There are currently openings in Arizona, California, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.

About SSOE Group

As an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm, SSOE is known for delivering unparalleled client value that advances the AEC industry. They have been named a “Great Workplace” (Great Place to Work®) and one of the “Best AEC Firms to Work For” (BD+C).

Over the company’s 75-year history, it has earned a reputation for providing quality project solutions to high-tech and general manufacturing clients in the semiconductor, automotive, battery, food, chemical, and glass industries. SSOE also provides forward-thinking design across healthcare and general building sectors such as corporate workplace, education, and judicial—with projects completed in 40 countries. Visit www.ssoe.com for additional information and career opportunities.

Media Contact:
Jenni Roder
(419) 469-1918
(419) 351-6480 cell
jroder@ssoe.com